Category: money

When I was getting ready to move at the end of October, I really wanted to get rid of a lot of things and downsize quite a bit so I looked into a few ways to sell some of my clothes and bags that I no longer used.

It is so easy to make some extra cash selling clothes, shoes and bags that you no longer wear, forgot to return or got as gifts and don’t use. There are tons of ways to sell these items online, but I’m going to share the 2 ways that I have personally used and have experience with.

ThredUp

ThredUp is an online consignment store for women and children. It is one of the first online consignment stores that I heard of. I have used it quite a few times and I find it one of the easiest to use.

How It Works:

After you register with Thredup, you can request a Clean Out Bag to be sent to you. A Clean Out Bag is a large bag with pre-paid postage that is used for you to send whatever it is you want to send to them. They accept gently worn clothes, shoes and bags from a large variety of brands. They even have an estimate calculator to help you determine if it’s worth it to send your item to them and how much you’ll earn from it.

Cost:

The Clean Out Bag is free if you don’t mind waiting a while, and I mean A WHILE, to have your bag processed and for you to get your earnings. If you want things to move a bit quicker, you can pay $16 for an expedited bag and your bag will be processed within a week of Thredup receiving it.

Process:

Once you send your bag in, if you do not opt for the expedited bag, you have to wait a while. I sent in my last bag in mid-October and it was processed on December 18th. After it’s processed, you can use your funds at Thredup immediately, but if you want to cash out you have to wait another few weeks.

How Much Can You Expect To Earn?:

Well, that all depends. There have been times where I have sent in a huge bag of stuff, but a lot of it was Old Navy and Gap Outlet stuff and I ended up making $15 from a whole damn bag of stuff. It was $15 that I wouldn’t have made otherwise and any clothes that weren’t accepted were donated so I didn’t feel bad, but damn $15???? However, my last bag was a MONEY MAKER! I really emptied out my closet and I know if I took the time to list some of these items individually on the next app I would’ve made more, but I just wanted these things OUT! I sent in a lot of purses I wasn’t using and a lot of work clothes and made over $250!

Who It’s Good For:

I definitely recommend ThredUp for ladies or moms who want to get rid of clothes or accessories quickly and in bulk. It’s also good for items that aren’t mid to high end- which is most of my wardrobe!

Where To Go:

Visit www.thredup.com

2. Poshmark

While Poshmark has been around for a while, I’m new to the Poshmark game, but I have had some decent success with it! Poshmark is an app where women can sell pretty much anything associated with fashion and beauty. It’s up to the seller to list and ship individual items.

Cost:

The app is free and it is also free to list an item. When you sell an item, a pre-paid shipping label is sent to you, but it is up to you to actually ship the item. In terms of fees, they are pretty straight forward. For all sales under $15, Poshmark takes $2.95. For all sales over $15, Poshmark takes 20%.

Process:

This process is a bit more involved than Thredup. Poshmark requires that you list each item individually, sort of like eBay. So for each item listed, you have to take good pictures of the item and accurately describe it and price it. I like to look for similar items in the app and price it $1-$5 less than most of the items. Once an item sells (there’s no guarantee your item will sell, this app has A LOT of sellers), you have 7 days to ship it out. Once the buyer receives the item and acknowledges receipt on the app, your payment is released to you. From there you either have the option to spend it in the app or transfer it to your bank account.

How Much Can You Expect To Earn?:

That all depends on what you list! How much you earn is really up to what you have in your closet and what you’re going to sell. I have sold a couple Lily Pulitzer pieces and made a decent profit from them and then sold a workout hoodie and only made a couple of bucks. It’s really up to you.

Who It’s Good For:

Poshmark is great to sell new items with tags still on them as I find they sell quicker. It’s also great if you have mid to high end items or trendy items. I’m also using this as a precursor to Thredup. If I list items on Poshmark and they don’t sell, then I can always send them in to Thredup.

You’ve decided to move in together! You picked the perfect spot! So you should just start packing right? Wrong!! There’s a lot of conversations to have before you move in together. It’s important to work these things out prior to the move as it will definitely help to prevent a lot of stress and possibly even a lot of fights later on.

Here are some of the pre-move in convos I recommend having:

Paying the bills- How is it going to work? Is it going to be an even split? Are you going to pay the rent, while he covers the rest of the utilities? These are important decisions to make prior to the first bills rolling in. Also, be honest about what you can afford!

What you’re bringing, what he’s bringing- Imagine moving in together and you both brought a couch or you move in and see he packed that leather chair that you just hate. Prior to moving in it’s important to discuss what you’re bringing and also what you plan on getting rid of. Prior to moving in with my fiancee I had to get rid of SO much stuff that I couldn’t believe I accumulated over the years. It may be difficult, but also probably necessary.

The new items you plan on buying- There might be a few new large items that you guys need to purchase. This is your chance to start crafting your living style as a couple. Do some shopping around and don’t break the budget

Chores- This may sound like a ridiculous conversation for 2 adults to have, but a necessary one I think. One person cannot and should not clean an entire house or apartment all of the time. I’m not saying make a chore chart like from back in the day, but have a discussion.

Routines- I’m sure you’ve had a lot of sleepovers, but sleepovers and living together are 2 totally different ideas. If you’re someone who falls asleep early or needs to make their own morning coffee or have 10 minutes to themselves after getting home let your significant other know ahead of time.

“House rules”- Boys night in on a Thursday when you have work the next day? Having your sister over for Real Housewives every night? Your usual routine of having friends over all of the time or having your parents come over whenever they want is going to have to change. You have someone else to think about now.

What other conversations did you have before moving in with someone? Or did you skip the convos altogether?

If you are anything like me, your credit card got quite a workout this weekend. I put quite a huge dent in my holiday shopping this weekend all from the comfort of my own living room! Normally, I would use my debit card for 95% of my purchases because I hate having any kind of credit card debt and I am still in the process of paying off my wedding dress on my credit card. However, for most of my purchases I ended up using my credit card for one specific reason: Earny. A large majority of retailers and major credit card companies have a policy where if a price drops on an item purchased within 90 days you are entitled to the difference. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time to stalk prices every day and quite honestly, I would forget after a few days anyway. That’s where Earny comes in!

Earny connects to both your inbox and credit cards and collects your electronic receipts. “He” monitors the prices of the items you purchased and if he sees a cheaper price he files a claim for the difference on your behalf! You will be notified if Earny is able to receive a refund for you and it will be debited right back to the card used to make the purchase, although some companies choose to mail out checks. Earny takes 25% of any refund issued to you, which considering I don’t usually track items to get any refunds, is not a bad deal. Currently Earny works with the following retailers:Amazon, Best Buy, Bloomingdales, Carters, Costco, Gap Group Stores, J.Crew, Jet, Kohls, Macy’s, New Egg, Nordstroms, Overstock, Sears, Staples, Target, Walmart and Zappos.

That’s a lot of stores!!

If getting some cash back in your pocket seems appealing, definitely give Earny a try by clicking here!

I am all about the side hustle. I think it is so important to have multiple sources of income or having different ways of earning money outside of your full time job. I have been participating in the side hustle for years and considering I have a wedding in less than a year I am continuing to look for additional side hustles. My first and main “side hustle” is my network marketing business. I have been selling Younique Cosmetics and Skincare for over 3 years and I really, really love it. It is something that not only makes me a few extra bucks, but something that I really enjoy as well. Do I make tons of money from it? No. I use Younique as my fun money. If I want to get a Stitch Fix box one month or get a couple mani/pedis I use my Younique card to pay for it! Currently, I am saving my Younique earnings to pay for my bridal hair and makeup and already used it to get my hair and makeup done for my engagement pictures!

What is network marketing?

Network marketing provides a great opportunity for those looking to own and run their own business with little or no up-front investment. After you decide on a company or product, you are most likely going to have to purchase a “starter kit” which provides you with basic materials to help you begin and market your business. From there you have the opportunity to sell the product and/or service to friends, family and others. Most network marketing companies also suggest you to recruit others to join your “ranks” in order for you to really see the best financial benefit from network marketing.

What kind of companies/products are there in network marketing?

Literally, anything!! From makeup, to food, to wine, to books, to home goods, etc. If you have a passion, there is most likely a network marketing company out there to meet it!

I personally feel it’s important to join a company that fits a passion or hobby of yours. If you aren’t into makeup, it won’t come off natural when you are trying to recommend products to your friends. You want to be genuinely excited and interested in what you are selling and that doesn’t mean that you have to love every product your company makes!

Who can become a network marketer?

Really, anyone. Most companies require their presenters to be 18 or older. You also need a social security number for tax purposes. Some companies may have additional requirements to it’s important to do your research and ask questions to either a fellow representative or an employee of the company itself. You will also need whatever the initial sign up costs are so remember to keep that in mind.

The Advantages of Network Marketing

*You can invest as much or as little time as you want.

*You can invest as much or as little money as you want.

*Most businesses you can work from anywhere.

*You are in business for yourself.

*However, most companies provide some sort of new seller training and a lot of companies provide additional support with the people who you joined under called your “upline”.

*You can learn while you earn (which is what I did).

*If you purchase anything for your business, it can possibly be tax deducted (talk to your accountant first!)

*Provides opportunities to make friends globally

*Provides empowerment, especially to women

*…and many, many more

The Disadvantages of Network Marketing

*Not all companies are legitimate, please do your research!

*Some can be quite expensive up-front

*Some may require you to carry stock, which means you will need space

*It may be difficult to get friend and family support

*You may feel pressured to buy new products

*You may feel pressured to market products you don’t personally like or use

*It might take a while to see true financial gains

*It’s not a quick fix or get rich quick scheme

*Some people can be skeptical of direct sales companies

So, is network marketing for me?

Unfortunately, that is not for me to answer. I think it can be a great side hustle if you are someone who can self-motivate and likes to either interact with people on a face to face basis or via social media (depending on the company). I also think it’s a great way to empower yourself and learn a lot about business, marketing, branding, social media and graphic design which are all things that I have learned about on my journey as a network marketer. It’s also great if you have realistic expectations of what you want to accomplish with the money you earn. Also, realistic expectations of the time it may take to grow your business and that what you put into it, is really what you get out of it.

If you possess these qualities- you are well on your way to becoming a fab network marketer, it’s just about finding the right company! A great place to start is by visiting the Direct Sellers Association website.

Welcome back for the second installment in my “Playing House Series”. This series is all about moving in with a significant other. My first post was all about making the big decision to move in with a significant other in the first place! You can find that here.

I am currently in the process of moving in with my fiancee Nick, so this series is really all about my take and my personal experience with these matters. Actually, the day this post is published is the day of the BIG MOVE!

Ok, enough with the introduction! Let’s get on to to the topic of this post! Ok, you guys made the massive, super adult decision to move in together and now it’s time to decide where!!

This can be a very tricky decision to make if you don’t live super close or if one of you is particularly attached to your apartment/house. It’s a discussion that has to be made calmly and with an open mind. You can go into the conversation with a desired outcome, but if you are not willing to listen or to compromise, this can be quite difficult. It’s very important to go into this discussion with an open mind.

Now I cannot sit here and give you the pros and cons of your place versus his place because obviously I don’t know your situation! This is a list for you to come up and be realistic about it! Sit down and look at your place from both your perspective and your significant other’s perspective and try to do the same for his place as well! It’s always important to try to look at it from their perspective, which can be difficult!

When Nick and I had the initial discussion about where we were going to live I made a list about all of the financial reasons why my apartment made the most sense, not even considering there is a lot more to this situation than finances. Sometimes the living arrangement that makes the most financial sense, isn’t the correct answer. His place was not an option, because he lives in New York City and parking is NOT fun over there and I need a car to get to work. We ended up with option C: a spanking new place for the both of us!

Here are some things to consider when deciding where you should live together as a couple:

*Finances- Is one apartment, or a new apartment more fiscally responsible? That’s something to consider*Distance- A central location for both of your jobs is definitely preferable. *Size- Be realistic. Minimalism may be trendy right now, but if you aren’t a minimalist don’t try to squeeze all of your stuff AND their stuff into a studio.*Comfort- This is a BIG one! Are you truly comfortable at his place? Is he truly comfortable at your place? We aren’t talking about spending a weekend here- we are talking about spending YEARS! If one of you isn’t truly comfortable or feel as if you can’t truly be yourself, it’s time to look for an alternative solution.*Future Goals- will getting a new apartment hinder a common future goal of yours? Definitely something to keep in mind*Time frame- how long do you plan on staying? If the realistic plan is a short period of time it may not make sense to relocate both of you

I have always been pretty good with money. I have an emergency savings account, I have a savings account set up for big purchases and I have very minimal credit card debt (the debt I do have at the moment is mainly wedding related). I do have student loan debt and my mortgage debt, but I feel that is pretty normal. One area of money management I have never really excelled in is holiday spending. I never really go into debt over buying gifts, but I never purchase the gifts I really want to and end up cutting the corners on a lot of other areas at that time like holiday outings. Then I found my new favorite money app. Digit is an app that has helped alleviate the stress of finances when it comes to holiday or gift shopping in general for me. I literally haven’t bought or given a gift with money from my checking account in over a year! Digit is an app that attaches to your checking account and tracks your spending. If you are spending less it withdraws money and adds it to the app which is like a savings account. The highest amount I’ve ever had taken out at one time is around $17. The app takes out amounts in such small increments that you don’t even realize that money is missing. It’s surprising how quickly this money adds up!

When you are ready to withdraw any amount, you go into the app and type in “withdraw” and the amount and within 1-2 business days the money is back in your checking account. You can even type in what you are withdrawing the money for if you are interested in keeping track! I also love that with the app I get a text every morning with my checking account balance and what has caused my balance to change from the day before. It helps to keep me on track and notice if there’s anything fishy going on. Now when I joined Digit it was free, however that has since changed. It is free for your first 100 days and $2.99 a month after that. I find that it is totally worth it because it has helped make saving money SO much easier for me! If you are interested in signing up, please consider using my link as I can get $5 added to my account! Then you can turn around and share this gold with your friends and use your own personal link!

If you plan on using Digit or a similar app, what are you saving for?? I would love to know and help cheer you on!

**I am not affiliated with Digit at all- they have no idea who I am! I just love this app and can’t wait to begin my holiday shopping this year using it! 🙂

A few months back I decided it was finally time to cut the cord with cable. I was getting so tired of my cable bill continuing to go up when the service stayed exactly the same. I was paying around $130 a month for internet service, home phone (which I never used) and about 50 channels total. This just seemed outlandish to me.

A few friends of mine and some relatives cut the cord and just used Netflix or a similar service. However, due to the fact that I am a massive sports feign, this did not suit me. I also hate being out of the loop when it comes to my trashy reality tv!

Playstation Vue became the ideal solution for me. I currently have the “Core” plan which is $45 a month. This includes a large majority of the channels I watch on a regular basis: basic cable channels, USA, Bravo, OWN and my sports networks!

Unfortunately, my local cable provider is still tremendously expensive when it comes to internet service. I end up only saving between $15-$20 a month by using my cable provider’s internet and Playstation Vue. However, I am still saving around $200 a year which is a big bonus! I also find myself not flipping as mindlessly as I used to with cable. If there’s nothing legitimately on I will put on a show on demand or watch a Youtube video instead. I truly love Playstation Vue and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for anyway to lower their expenses.

With that being said, when my fiancee and I move in together we are reconnecting that cord. Why?? Most cable providers, including mine, offer such fantastic deals for the first two years of a contract that a monthly bill comes out to be less than an internet + Vue deal! We will take advantage of the promotional pricing and when it returns to “normal” pricing we will switch back to our Playstation Vue!

Speaking of Playstation Vue,

would anyone be interested in a tutorial post on how to use the system??